Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/304

 270 PLINY' S NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book III. Polyliistor Tliucydides^, Tlieophrastus^, Isidorus'*, Theo- pompus^, Metrodorus of Scepsis^, Callicrates'', Xenophon of Lampsacus^, Diodorus of Syracuse^, Nympliodorus^", Calliphanes^^ and Timagenes^^. ^ Also called by Pliny Cornelius Alexander. Smdas states that he was a native of Ephesns and a disciple of Crates, and during the war of Sylla in Greece was made prisoner and sold as a slave to C. Lentvdus, who made him the tutor of his cliildren, and afterwards restored him to free- dom. Servius however says that he received the franchise from L. Cor- nehus Sylla. He was burnt with his house at Laiu-cntum. Other writers say that he was a native of Catiseum in Lesser Phrygia. The surname of " Polyhistor" was given to him for his prodigious learning. His greatest work seems to have been a historical and geographical account of the world, in forty-two books. Other works of his are frequently mentioned by Plutarch, Photius, and other vsriters. 2 The historian of the Peloponnesian war, and the most famous, per- haps, of all the ancient writers in prose. 3 Of Eresus hi Lesbos ; the favom-ite disciple of Aristotle, and desig- nated by liim as his successor in the presidency of the Lyceum. He composed more than 200 works on various subjects, of which only a very few survive. ■* See end of B. ii. ^ See end of B. ii. ^ He is frequently mentioned by Cicero, and was famous for his elo- quence. Phny informs us in liis 34th book, that from his hatred of the Romans he was called the " Roman-hater." It is probable that he was the wi'iter of a Periegesis, or geographical work, from which Phny seems to quote. 7 No particulars of tliis author are known. He probably wrote on geography. ^ He is agam mentioned by Pliny in B. iv. c. 13, and B. vi. c. 31, and by Solinus, c. xxu. 60. It is supposed that he was the author of a Pe- riplus or Cfrcumnavigation of the Earth, mentioned by Pliny B. vii. c. 48 ; but notliing frirther is known of him. ^ Diodorus Siculus was a native of Agyra or Agyrium, and not of Syracuse, though he may possibly have resided or studied there. It can- not be doubted that he is the person here meant, and Phny refers in his preface by name to liis liijSXwOrjicr], " Library," or Universal History. A great portion of this miscellaneous but valuable work has perished. We have but few particulars of his life ; but he is supposed to have written his work after B.C. 8. ^^ Of Syracuse ; an liistorian probably of the time of Pliilip and Alex- ander. He was tlie autlior of a Periplus of Asia, and an accomit of Sicily and Sardinia. From his stories in the last he obtained the name of " Thaumatographus " or 'STiter of wonders." ^^ Of Calliplianes the Geographer notliing is known. ^2 Probably Timagenos, the rhetorician of Alexandria. He was taken prisoner and brought to Rome, but redeemed from captivity by Eaustus, the son of Sylla. He wrote many works, but it is somewhat doubtful whotlier the " Periplus," in five Books, was ^^Titten by this Tunagenes. He is also supposed to have written a work on the Antiquities of Gaul.